The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating after sparks from a train ignited a grass fire in Calgary.
An investigator was deployed by the national agency on Monday.
READ MORE: Grass fire sparks up along train tracks in Calgary
They say the blaze took place two days earlier and was put out by the local fire department.
Carol Henke, a public information officer with the Calgary Fire Department, told Global News that the fire department’s investigation is also ongoing.
“Very early on Saturday morning, we received multiple calls to 911 reporting multiple grass fires along the railway line in Erin Woods,” she said. “We sent multiple fire crews (and) 10 apparatus were called because our primary focus — first of all — is preservation of life and protection of property.
“That grass fire, the chance was, if the wind picked up, it could move into the residential area and cause some real destruction… we didn’t want that fire to spread to anyone’s home.”
Get breaking National news
The safety board is similarly investigating the possibility a freight train caused a wildfire in Lytton, B.C., that killed two people and destroyed much of the village.
READ MORE: First Nation slams 1-week delay of probe into possible rail link to Lytton fire
Officials have also said they are investigating a case in Sparwood, B.C., involving a train after a report from another train’s crew of a brush fire.
Investigators are still assessing all three fires.
In an emailed statement, Canadian National Railway said it was “aware of the incident in Calgary.”
“Upon noticing the issue, the crew of the locomotive reported the incident to the railway traffic controller and retired the locomotive from service for inspection,” a spokesperson said.
“CN would like to thank the local fire crews for their prompt response.”
CN said the locomotive will be thoroughly inspected before it’s put back in service, and that the company is co-operating with the TSB in its investigation.
–With files from Global News
Watch below: Some Global News videos about fires in B.C.
- Cineplex slapped with record $38.9M fine over online booking fee
- Conservatives set to table non-confidence motion Tuesday. What to expect
- After controversial directive, Quebec now says anglophones have right to English health services
- Home reno spending was up $300B over pandemic, Re/Max Canada says
Comments